Serie A’s seven representatives in UEFA’s club competitions are still in with a chance of winning European silverware this season.
Napoli, Inter Milan and Lazio safely progressed to the last-16 in the Champions League, while Milan dropped to the Europa League in December 2023.
The Rossoneri joined Roma in the knockout round play-offs and both have secured a spot alongside Atalanta in the last-16. Fiorentina topped their group in the Europa Conference League and are through to the last-16 of a competition they came close to winning last season, losing on Final to West Ham.
Serie A Trio Face Tough Tests in the Champions League
Three of Serie A’s four Champions League representatives made it through to the knockout phase, but securing further progress will be tough.
Napoli have been paired with La Liga side Barcelona in the last-16 and could upset the odds, although that will be a tall order given their current form. The first leg in Naples ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lazio did well to get out of a tough group and beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 but have a tough return leg in Munich next week.
Inter have also landed a difficult tie against Atletico Madrid and beat Diego Simeone’s side 1-0 at the Stadio Meazza two weeks ago.
Both teams navigated the group stage without losing a game and two close encounters are on the cards. Inter are slightly stronger defensively, which could tip the scales in their favour.
Champions League Odds
- Manchester City – 2/1
- Bayern Munich – 4/1
- Arsenal – 11/2
- Real Madrid – 11/2
- Paris Saint-Germain – 12/1
- Barcelona – 16/1
- Inter Milan – 18/1
- Atletico Madrid – 25/1
- Borussia Dortmund – 28/1
- Napoli – 50/1
- RB Leipzig – 66/1
- Real Sociedad – 66/1
- FC Porto – 100/1
- PSV Eindhoven – 125/1
- Lazio – 150/1
- FC Copenhagen – 400/1
Roma Set to Renew Rivalry with Feyenoord
Roma and Feyenoord have become familiar foes in recent seasons, meeting in the 2021-22 Europa Conference League and last season’s Europa League. The Giallorossi once again beat the Dutch side this term, qualifying for the Europa League Round of 16 where they will meet Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighron.
Milan had an easier draw as they were paired with Slavia Praha. The Rossoneri will play the first leg at San Siro next week. Stefano Pioli’s men beat Rennes 5-3 on aggregate in the playoff knockout phase.
Atalanta will face Sporting CP, a team they already met in the group phase, securing one win and one draw.
Europa League Odds
- Liverpool – 2/1
- Bayer Leverkusen – 9/2
- AC Milan – 9/1
- Brighton & Hove Albion – 14/1
- West Ham United – 16/1
- Roma – 18/1
- Benfica – 20/1
- Atalanta – 25/1
- Sporting Lisbon – 25/1
- Villarreal – 25/1
- Galatasaray – 28/1
- Marseille – 28/1
- Feyenoord – 33/1
- Lens – 33/1
- Braga – 40/1
- Rangers – 40/1
- Rennes – 40/1
- Freiburg – 50/1
- Shakhtar Donetsk – 66/1
- Young Boys – 66/1
- Slavia Prague – 80/1
- Toulouse – 80/1
- Sparta Prague – 100/1
- FK Qarabag – 200/1
Fiorentina Fancied to Make Another Deep Run
Fiorentina reached the final of the Europa Conference League last season but failed to get their hands on the trophy after a hard-fought tussle with West Ham United. The Tuscans will meet Maccabi Haifa in the Round of 16, playing the first leg away next week.
Online bookmakers in the United Kingdom and Ireland are tipping another Premier League club to be the main obstacle standing in their way of success this season.
The top 10 Irish betting sites list Aston Villa as the favourites to win the competition and they could be tough to beat given their performances this season.
Some UK bookies rate Fiorentina as 7/1 shots to go one better, but a couple of leading Irish sportsbooks cut them into 11/2 after they went unbeaten during the group stage.
It would be no surprise to see another Italy versus England final in this competition, although Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Betis, Ajax and Lille could be dangerous.
Europa Conference League Odds
- Aston Villa – 11/4
- Fiorentina – 11/2
- Eintracht Frankfurt – 17/2
- Lille – 12/1
- Real Betis – 12/1
- Ajax – 14/1
- Fenerbahce – 14/1
- Club Brugge – 16/1
- PAOK – 20/1
- Viktoria Plzen – 22/1
- Union St Gilloise – 25/1
- Maccabi Haifa – 28/1
- Gent – 33/1
- Olympiakos – 33/1
- Slovan Bratislava – 40/1
- Dinamo Zagreb – 50/1
- Ludogorets Razgrad – 50/1
- Sturm Graz – 50/1
- Ferencvaros – 66/1
- Molde FK – 66/1
- Legia Warsaw – 80/1
- Servette – 80/1
- Bodo Glimt – 100/1
- Maccabi Tel Aviv – 100/1